How you compare
John McCain shares a 75% similarity with your beliefs on Taxes and Budget
I strongly oppose an increase in taxes for the wealthiest Americans
"I voted to extend them because it would have the effect of having a tax increase. The tax cuts have increased revenues enormously. They've been very beneficial. The problem is that spending has lurched completely out of control. My proposal was to restrain spending. I do not support tax increases. And the effect of not making them permanent would have the effect of a tax increase."
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates 2008 series May 13, 2007
Q: You opposed President Bush's 2001 tax cuts. Now you say you were wrong. How can you convince Republican voters you will push a Democratic Congress hard enough to make those tax cuts permanent? A: I didn't say that I was wrong. I said that the reason why I opposed those tax cuts was because we didn't rein in spending. And the fact is the tax cuts have dramatically increased revenues. If we don't make them permanent, then every business, farm and family in America will have to adjust their budgets to what is in effect a tax increase. In 2001, I proposed massive tax cuts, but I also proposed to rein in spending. Spending is out of control. We didn't lose the 2006 election because of the war in Iraq; we lost it because we in the Republican Party came to Washington to change government and government changed us. We let spending go out of control. We spent money like a drunken sailor, although I never knew a sailor drunk or sober with the imagination of my colleagues.
2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina May 15, 2007
I support tax cuts for middle-class families
"It is time to help hard-working Americans, and it is time to make sure Washington never stops working for them. I promise to take care of American families by cutting taxes for the middle class by $60 billion in a single year."
In 2000, McCain's tax cut plan was valued at $238 billion over five years; and $500 billion over 10 years. Its centerpiece is an expansion of the lowest income tax bracket, the 15% bracket, to cover higher incomes. Today, McCain says he supports the Bush tax cuts and has no plans to raise taxes, but refuses to sign a no-new taxes pledge. Under the plan, the ceiling for the 15% bracket would rise to $70,000 from $43,050 for married couples filing jointly, and to $35,000 from $25,750 for single taxpayers. The effect is to give a $3,504 tax cut to a couple with taxable income of $70,000 or more.
New York Times, p. 22 Feb 27, 2000
I strongly support a flat tax system across income levels
Q: Do you support a "Fair Tax"? A: "I do not. I think we should look very carefully at it. I think we should look at what the Wall Street Journal said could increase an individuals taxation up into the 30s (%). Obviously we need a simpler, fairer tax code -- everybody knows that. We need to have a commission that reports out a credible propose, and then we do what we do with base closing commissions... Congress can't fool around with them, just a yes or a no. If Congress can't fix the problem, elect me and I will do it." - Question 9
Wants a "simpler, flatter, fair tax so that Americans don't have to spend $140 billion to prepare their tax returns."
In 2000, pitched a plan to expand the 15% tax bracket
New York Times, p. A21 Jan 11, 2000
I strongly support a Constitutional amendment that would require Congress and the President to balance the budget each year
"But look, we're mortgaging our children's futures. We Republicans are the party of the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. His [President Bush] comment is that at some undetermined time, we're going to cut the deficit in half. Half of a half-a-trillion-dollar debt on an annual basis? We've become totally fiscally irresponsible, and it's disgraceful."
Voted YES on balanced-budget amendment
S. J. Res. 1; Bill S. J. Res. 1 ; vote number 1997-24 on Mar 4, 1997